Trash door handle

ABSTRACT

A handle assembly for use with a trash receptacle having a vertically oriented door in a vertical plane, and a receptacle interior on one side of the vertically oriented door. The handle assembly is made up of a handle body with a center of mass; a first end attached to said vertically oriented door and a second end. The handle body is configured so that said center of mass is located approximately within the vertical plane of the vertically oriented door, so that said vertically oriented door with said attached handle assembly hangs in said vertical plane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention generally relates to trash receptacle containers, and more particularly to trash receptacle containers having a hollow portion wherein a trash receptacle is located and a generally vertically oriented door which facilitates access to the receptacle. A handle assembly mounted to the generally vertically oriented door of a trash receptacle container facilitates the movement of the door in and out of an open position relative to an opening through which trash may be deposited.

[0003] 2. Background

[0004] Fast food restaurants and similar establishments utilize trash containers to enclose open garbage receptacles. Typically these containers are upright rectangular shaped containers having a hollow portion wherein a garbage receptacle is located. A vertically oriented swinging top door located within one side of the upright container allows access to the garbage can.

[0005] In use, after a person has finished eating and wishes to leave the restaurant, empty food containers, uneaten food and other materials, typically on a tray, are taken to the trash container for disposal. Typically a generally vertically oriented door is pushed open and the debris, trash, uneaten food, etc. is emptied into the garbage receptacle within this container.

[0006] To open this swinging door, the person normally must place their hand or other body part against the exterior surface of the door and push it inward to open up the access hole. The trash on the tray is then deposited within the garbage receptacle inside. This procedure has several problems.

[0007] First, to open the door the person must touch the door of the container. In so doing a person contacts a surface that has been contacted by dozens and perhaps hundreds of other people. Furthermore, often times such doors come into contact with garbage either from a passing tray or from the garage receptacle within the container. As a result, the door becomes soiled and dirty.

[0008] Secondly, to open the door wide the person must put their hand inside the container over the open garbage receptacle. This is effectively placing a person's hand in close proximity to a many times foul smelling, insect inhabited trash container. To avoid these situations people use a variety of techniques. Some people will simply push the door open with their tray. As a result, food from their tray contacts the door and may stick. This stuck on food complicated by the additions of various people over time results in an unsanitary accumulation of food and germs. Often times those who use their tray create additional spillage on the door and on the floor. Spilled food on the floor is hazardous both as a germ proliferation medium and as a cause of slips and falls.

[0009] Some people utilize a napkin or other device to push the door open, thus limiting their contact with the door by a barrier. Others attempt to touch the door only along a periphery where it is hoped that fewer germ contacts have been made. To perform either of these acts one hand is required to push the door and another hand is required to insert the contents of the tray into the container opening. Some persons such as young children, the elderly, and other persons with physical challenges that may impair their use of both hands frequently cannot use such doors without the assistance of another person.

[0010] What is needed is a handle for a vertical door lying in a vertical plane that allows the door to hang in a closed vertical position while also allowing the door to be opened by persons without touching the door itself.

[0011] What is further needed is an assistance device for a person with physical challenges to access the garbage receptacles such as those found in fast food restaurants having a hanging vertical door.

[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a handle for opening vertically hanging doors such as those found in fast food restaurants. Another object of the invention is to provide an assistance means for physically challenged individuals to open a vertically hanging door.

[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a more sanitary means for disposing of garbage in fast food restaurants and other locations where garbage receptacle containers have a hanging vertical door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] These and other objects are accomplished by the handle assembly of the present invention. This handle assembly is designed for use with the type of trash containers that are commonly used in commercial eating establishments. This type of trash receptacle is generally rectangular, with a receptacle interior and a vertically oriented door hanging in a vertical plane. The door has an interior side and an exterior side and allows access to the receptacle interior located on one side of the vertically oriented door. The handle assembly includes a handle body with a first end and a second end. The handle body has a desired mass with a center of mass located at a point within the handle body. This handle body has at least one attachment means for attaching the handle body first end to the vertically oriented door.

[0015] The handle body is configured so that when attached to the vertically oriented door the center of mass of the handle body lies generally within the same vertical plane as the vertical hanging door. This results in half of the mass of the handle body on one side of the vertical plane of the hanging door, and the other half of the mass of the handle body is on the other side of the vertical plane of the hanging door. This configuration causes the vertically oriented door to hang vertically when the handle body is attached to it. Other handle bodies are positioned on the exterior side of the vertical plane of the vertically oriented door, and when attached to the vertically oriented door cause the door to rest outside of the vertical plane of the vertically oriented door.

[0016] Another configuration of the device is similar to the first, except that the handle assembly includes two handle bodies, with a generally horizontal grip bar connecting the handle bodies. Each of the two handle bodies is attached at its first end to the vertically oriented door. This handle assembly is also configured so that the center of mass of each of the handle bodies and the horizontal grip bar is located approximately within the same vertical plane as the vertically oriented door. In other words, half of the mass of the door is on one side, and half of the mass of the handle body is on the other side of the vertical plane in which the vertically oriented door hangs. As with the first configuration, this causes the vertically oriented door to hang vertically with the handle assembly attached to one side of it.

[0017] In one version of the invention, the attachment means is a bolt and nut assembly. The bolt is attached to the first end of the handle body, and extends through the vertically oriented door to the interior side of the vertically oriented door where it is held in place by a corresponding nut. The device can also include a version with a positioning pin adjacent to the bolt, as part of the attachment means. Other conventional means of attachment are also within the scope of the invention such as the use of pins, screws, glue, welding, brazing, or other means of attachment. The door and handle assembly can also be molded as one piece thus requiring no means of attaching the door to the handle.

[0018] The shape of the handle body can be semicircular in shape or can be generally angular, with a generally straight horizontal base section, a generally vertical middle section, and a generally horizontal top section. As with the version of the device which is semicircular, the generally angular shaped version of the device is configured so that the center of mass of the handle assembly is located approximately within the vertical plane of the hanging door. The handle assembly may include a grip knob. A generally spherical grip knob has proven to be an acceptable shape, however any shape that accomplishes the purposes of the device will do.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention attached to a trash receptacle container.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a detailed elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when the vertical door is open.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a detailed elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention

[0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a detailed elevational view of the first embodiment of the invention further showing a positioning pin.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

[0025] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0026] The present invention is a handle for trash receptacle containers. Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is the handle 10, the trash receptacle 28 and a vertical hanging door 30. In FIG. 2, a detailed elevational cross-sectional view of the same embodiment as FIG. 1 is shown. This embodiment comprises a handle assembly 10 comprised of a handle body 12 having a center of mass 14, a first end 16 and a second 18. The handle assembly 10 is attached to a vertically oriented door 30 by an attachment means 20. In this embodiment the attachment means 20 is a bolt and nut assembly. However, it is to be remembered that other means of attachment are also within the scope of the invention such as the use of pins, screws, glue, welding, brazing, or other means of attachment. The door and handle assembly can also be molded as one piece thus requiring no means of attaching the door to the handle.

[0027] Attached to the second end 18 of the handle body is a grip knob 26. A generally spherical grip knob has proven to be an acceptable shape, however any shape that accomplishes the purposes of the device will do.

[0028] In use, by pulling on the grip knob in a generally horizontally linear direction, the vertically hanging door is opened and access to the inner portion is obtained. This is shown in FIG. 3. By holding the position of the handle the door remains open. Returning the handle to its prior position allows the door to return to a closed position. A stopping tab means 42 connected to the inside of the trash receptacle 28 prevents the vertically oriented door 30 from over-rotating when the handle is pushed instead of pulled. This in turn prevents the second end of the handle from contacting the trash receptacle container.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows the vertically hanging door at rest lies in a vertical plane along with the center of mass of the handle body 12. To open the door, the second end of the handle body 18 having a grip knob 26, is pulled in a generally horizontally linear fashion towards the person who is discarding their trash. Upon pulling the handle towards them, the generally vertically oriented door rotates about a pivot means opening the vertically oriented door, revealing an opening to the interior of the trash receptacle wherein the person's trash may be deposited.

[0030] In the second embodiment of the invention as described in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of this second embodiment. FIG. 4, is an elevational cross-section of the same embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The handle assembly 10 comprised of a horizontal base section 36, a vertical second section 38, and a horizontal top section 40. Attached to the vertically oriented door 30 in this embodiment are two handle assemblies 10, 10′ connected by means of a horizontal grip bar 22. Whereby a party may grab the horizontal grip bar 22, pull the bar in a generally horizontally linear fashion, and thus open the vertically oriented door and reveal a passage to the interior of the trash receptacle.

[0031] In the embodiment demonstrated in FIG. 4 and the embodiment demonstrated in FIG. 2, a stopping tab 42 located on the inside of the trash receptacle may be installed to prevent over-rotation of the vertically hanging door along a rotational axis. This would in turn prevent impact of the second end of the handle assembly (either the grip knob or the horizontal grip bar or any other embodiment placed along the second end of the handle assembly) from impacting with the surface of the trash receptacle.

[0032] The handle assembly may be attached to the vertically hanging door through any of a variety of attachment means commonly known in the art or may be molded with the door as one piece. FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the invention wherein the attachment means is nut and bolt assembly 24 connected through the vertical door 30. FIG. 6 includes a positioning pin 44 along with the nut and bolt attachment means. Additional means such as pins, rivets, glue, screws, an adaptation means with corresponding back plate, welding, brazing, one piece molding, or any other means of attachment conventionally known in the art to be suitable to achieve this purpose may be used.

[0033] In use, the combination of elements which comprise this assembly create a handle assembly which allows individuals to more easily utilize and access the vertically hanging doors on traditional fast food restaurant-type trash receptacles.

[0034] While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will also be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A handle assembly for use with a trash receptacle having a vertically oriented door in a vertical plane, said door having an interior side and an exterior side, with a receptacle interior on one side of said vertically oriented door, said handle assembly comprising: at least one handle body with a center of mass, a first end configured for attachment to said vertically oriented door and a second end said handle body configured so that said center of mass is located approximately within the vertical plane of said vertically oriented door, so that said vertically oriented door hangs in said vertical plane when said handle assembly is attached; and at least one attachment means, for attaching said handle body first end to said vertically oriented door.
 2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly comprises at least two handle bodies, each with a first end and a second end, with said first ends attached to said vertically oriented door, and a generally horizontal grip bar connecting said handle bodies.
 3. A handle assembly for use with a trash receptacle having an interior and a vertically oriented door in a vertical plane, said door having an interior side and an exterior side, with a receptacle interior on one side of said vertically oriented door, said handle assembly comprising: a handle body with a mass, a first end configured for attachment to said vertically oriented door and extending to a second end, said first end extending through said vertically oriented door and held in place by at least one attachment means, said handle body extending away from said attachment with said vertically oriented door, and extending through said vertical plane superior to said vertical door, said handle body configured so that approximately one half of the mass of said handle body is on one side of said vertical plane, and approximately one other half of the mass of said handle body is on an other side of said vertical plane, so that said vertically oriented door with said attached handle assembly hangs within said vertical plane;
 4. The handle assembly of claim 3 in which said handle body is generally semicircular in shape.
 5. The handle assembly of claim 3 wherein said attachment means is a bolt and nut assembly.
 6. The handle assembly of claim 3 wherein said attachment means further comprises an positioning pin.
 7. The handle assembly of claim 4, which further includes a grip knob.
 8. The handle assembly of claim 7 in which said grip knob is generally spherical in shape.
 9. The handle assembly of claim 3 in which said handle body is comprised of a generally straight horizontal base section, and a generally vertical second section, a generally horizontal top section.
 10. The handle assembly of claim 3 which further comprises a stopping tab for preventing over-rotation of said door, and for preventing the second end of the handle body from contacting the trash receptacle.
 11. The handle assembly of claim 10 wherein said stopping tab is located within said trash receptacle.
 12. The handle assembly of claim 3 wherein said first end of said handle body is dimensioned to provide a cross-sectional area of the handle body at a location of attachment larger than a cross-sectional area of the handle body at any other location along the handle body.
 13. A handle assembly for use with a trash receptacle having a vertically oriented door in a vertical plane, said door having an interior side and an exterior side, with a receptacle interior on one side of said vertically oriented door, said handle assembly comprising: a generally semicircular handle body with a center of mass, a first end configured for attachment to said vertically oriented door and a second end, with said handle body configured so that said center of mass is located approximately within said vertical plane of said vertically oriented door, so that said vertically oriented door with said attached handle assembly hangs in said vertical plane; a generally spherical grip knob; and at least one attachment means, attached to said first end of said handle body, for attaching said handle body first end to said vertically oriented door.
 14. The handle assembly of claim 13 in which said attachment means further comprises a bolt and a nut.
 15. The handle assembly of claim 14 in which said attachment means further comprises a positioning pin adjacent to said bolt.
 16. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the direction of movement of the handle when pulled is in a generally horizontal path.
 17. The handle assembly of claim 2 wherein the direction of movement of the handle when pulled is in a generally horizontal path.
 18. A handle assembly for use with a trash receptacle having a vertically oriented door in a vertical plane, said door having an interior side and an exterior side, with a receptacle interior on one side of said vertically oriented door, said handle assembly comprising: at least one handle body with a center of mass, a first end configured for attachment to said vertically oriented door and a second end said handle body configured so that said center of mass is located approximately within the vertical plane of said vertically oriented door, so that said vertically oriented door hangs in said vertical plane where in said handle assembly is one piece; wherein the direction of movement of the handle when pulled is in a generally horizontal path.
 19. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly comprises at least two handle bodies, each with a first end and a second end, connected by a generally horizontal grip bar. 